We have been socked in by fog for days and days now and everything is just a dreary gray. So, after going to Roseville to look at a trailer, I just kept driving right on out of town, just trying so desperately to get out of the fog for a bit. Finally, just past Auburn at 2,000 feet elevation… I’m out of the fog and free from the bleak gray for a few hours (hurray!). I explored a few side roads off the freeway and then found Yankee Jims Road, which is a nice 13 mile stretch of graded dirt road that takes you to Foresthill and that sounded like a nice way to spend some time out of the fog, so away I went. I only encountered a couple of other trucks, so it was just a nice pretty drive along the canyon and across the old 1930s Colfax-Foresthill suspension bridge. I stopped and enjoyed a waterfall along the way and then returned back to the grayness of the valley.
I had a wonderful and relaxing Christmas weekend at Bodega Bay with Tersha and Vic. They invited me the spend it with them at the beach in their trailer and I’ve decided that is a great way to camp! Christmas Eve, we arrived at the Bodega Bay RV Park and set up house for the weekend. Next door to the RV park is the Bell Memorial, which commemorates the generosity Nicholas Green’s family for donating his organs in Italy during an untimely tragedy. In 1994, while vacationing in Italy, Nicholas was shot and killed by highway robbers. His family donated his organs to seven Italian recipients and it helped spur the virtually non-existent organ donation program in Italy and is known as the Nicholas Effect. The memorial contains bells from all over Italy and one large bell which was blessed by the Pope. Donna, a coworker from EDS, and her husband Gary, arrived at the RV park and parked next door, so more friends to visit with. Christmas morning, we walked a couple miles through Sonoma Coast State Park to the beach and enjoyed the solitude of a beach shared only with birds (and one state ranger). After a nice day spent relaxing and talking and getting to know the other RVers, we drove to one of the many lookout spots and enjoyed the sunset over the ocean. On Boxing Day, we took a ride over to the Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve for Tersha’s big tree fix. After a few stops at beaches, we turned inland and followed the Russian River to the tall trees near Guerneville. Walking through old growth forest is always relaxing and peaceful, even if you’re being slightly rained upon. After a nice dinner at the Sandpiper Restaurant, it sure was nice to have a dry and warm trailer to retire to! Can you tell how much I liked camping in a trailer? After packing up Sunday morning, we had a leisurely breakfast at the Tides Wharf Restaurant and then headed back home.
On the way home from the Victorian Christmas celebration, we drove over to Dovewood Court in Orangevale, which is another of the many spots listed on the Sacramento Bee’s Holiday Light Map, and joined the long line of cars trying to get in to see the display. We found a parking spot a few blocks away and then joined the throng of walkers trying to get in to see the display. Walking got us into the court much faster than driving, definitely! Dovewood Court has been putting on an extravagant light display for many years now and they use the occasion to collect canned food for the Food for Families charity. This is such a big deal for this neighborhood, that when you buy a house on the court, you have to sign an agreement that you agree to participate, now that’s a commitment to the holiday spirit. A new addition is one of those synchronized displays to the music. I took a video of the display that was synchronized to music from the Trans Siberian Orchestra’s Wizard in Winter, but I think the one the designer took is much better (and nobody walked in front of him while filming), so here’s his video of it. Merry Christmas!
Lori and I headed up to Nevada City for their Victorian Christmas celebration. It was raining lightly with occasional downpours that lasted a few minutes, but that didn’t dampen anyone’s fun. The vendors lined the streets and Christmas music played by children filled the air. We enjoyed some excellent crepes from Calla Lily Crepes for lunch and then watched tap dancers perform in the rain (videos of them below). I also just found out that Hallmark filmed the 2006 movie “The Christmas Card” right here in Nevada City and if you’ve seen the movie, while I only saw the trailer, that is really what the town looks like. One last big downpour of rain and we head home after riding it out under one of the musician’s umbrella. Christmas is in the air!
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